The head of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement said on Wednesday that he has examined the US proposal for a ceasefire with Israel and that it depends on the Israeli response and the “seriousness” of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Naim Qassem said in a televised speech that Hezbollah will not agree to a ceasefire that “does not completely stop aggression” and “does not preserve Lebanese sovereignty.”
Qassem was referring to a controversial point reportedly included in the current draft agreement that explicitly grants Israel the right to self-defense.
He confirmed that ceasefire negotiations were ongoing, but made clear that the militia would not suspend its attacks during the talks.
“We will remain on the battlefield no matter how high the cost,” the Hezbollah leader added, stressing that his group has not and will not change its “national resistance positions.”
It is unclear where Qassem is now staying. He has made several speeches since the assassination of his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah in late September and was appointed Hezbollah’s new leader three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the Lebanese House Nabih Berri, who is mediating negotiations on behalf of Hezbollah with US envoy Amos Hochstein, was quoted as saying that “the negotiations this time are based on something, pending the Israeli response.”
Berri met with Hochstein for the second time on Wednesday, after conversations the day before. Hochstein must be in Israel now.
